Raamy Fares Of Heated Room On How Pilates Can Improve Your Health and Wellbeing
An Interview With Maria Angelova
I believe precision is very important because it also requires a lot of self-awareness and practice. Pilates allows us to connect with our inner selves, to listen to our bodies and to pay close attention to what we are being taught in class. The moment you start listening to your body, everything else will align naturally.
Pilates was invented around 100 years ago, and it is becoming an increasingly popular form of exercise. What exactly is Pilates? How is it different from other modalities like Yoga or Tai Chi? What are the benefits of Pilates? Who can most benefit from it? In this interview series, we are talking to Pilates professionals & practitioners who can talk about how Pilates can improve your health and wellbeing. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Raamy Fares.
Hollywood’s newest obsession among mega-stars and fitness aficionados is Heated Room, a groundbreaking training studio founded and owned by Raamy Fares, a Lebanese entrepreneur who grew up in Senegal, then traveled to Paris, France, at the age of 16 to pursue his studies in marketing and international business. Fares moved to the United States in 2017 to continue his education and follow his passions. He founded Heated Room in 2021 with the goal of improving people’s physical and mental well-being through an inventive and energizing fusion of pilates, HIIT, yoga, and cutting-edge technology.
Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
Thank you for having me, I’m Raamy Fares and I’m both Lebanese and Iranian. The first 16 years of my life I lived in Senegal, West Africa then moved to Paris, France and lived there for 7 years to study International Business and Marketing. I decided to move to Los Angeles five years ago to learn English and continue with my studies here.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
I have a few stories to share, but let’s start from the beginning! After I graduated, I really felt the need to become an entrepreneur. I’m all about following my instinct, so opening a business in Los Angeles felt right to me.
At first, I was planning to open a restaurant, but for some reason it didn’t feel right. I was about to sign the lease and start working on that project, but I decided to take a very different direction. That taught me a lesson, I learned that it is better to work on a project that you are truly passionate about, than trying to force yourself to do something that doesn’t fulfill you. Doing what makes you happy is the best way to go, always.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Passion: I absolutely love music. I spend a lot of time creating playlists for the studio, as well as going out to see live performances. Music is a big part of my life.
Driven: I stay consistent with my workouts, consistency is key in everything you do, if you are someone that is driven by wellness and feeling your best, you know this better than anyone!
Meticulous: I’m all about doing tons of research when I’m working on a project. I will never offer a product or service that I am not satisfied with or that I don’t believe in.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?
I am convinced that our workouts help people feel better — both mentally and physically — so all of the things that we do and offer have that focus. Something that I am super excited to share is that we are currently working on opening a second location next year. We are also constantly doing fun partnerships and Heated workout classes with different personalities and brands, this is the part of the business that I really enjoy!
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview about Pilates. To begin, can you tell our readers a bit about why you are an authority on the topic of Pilates?
Thank you for such a flattering compliment! When it comes to pilates, I still have so much to learn and that is the reason why I keep practicing almost everyday in my studio, and luckily our instructors are amazing so I am learning from some of the best in the industry.
When I decided to open Heated Room, I had a vision of what my ideal fitness studio would look like, and I did my best to build it. I knew I had to innovate to make my vision a reality. There are hundreds of fitness studios in Los Angeles, but I wanted to create something different — as in the workout, but also lighting and sound — we combine mat Pilates, Hiit, and Yoga with the most innovative infrared heating system and a premium sound system. All of this is to give you the best workout experience from the moment you walk in. We also use the Merrithew Reformers in our Reformer Room to help everyone get the best possible results.
How is Pilates different from other movement modalities that you have practiced?
Pilates is one of the most precise physical exercises out there, and what’s so amazing about it is that it trains the body from the inside out, and on top of that it is so versatile because you can practice it on either a yoga mat or on a machine (a reformer). Pilates will help you improve your strength, flexibility and body awareness through controlled movements.
On a personal level, what are the biggest benefits that you have gained from regular Pilates practice?
I believe practicing Pilates has allowed me to feel good in my body but has also helped me become more patient. It is a difficult workout that requires a lot of discipline, time and dedication for you to see your own improvement as Pilates is more about control rather than pure strength.
Who do you think can most benefit from Pilates?
Everyone can benefit from Pilates, but I think those who have a bad posture could definitely benefit the most. It has been the only workout that has helped me improve mine.
It can also benefit those who are very active, or not active at all. Our reformer machines as well as our heated classes allow you to decide on the intensity of your workouts, as well as which part of your body you want to target.
In my own Pilates practice, I stress the importance of precision in Pilates. Based on your experiences and research, what are your thoughts about why precision is important in Pilates?
I believe precision is very important because it also requires a lot of self-awareness and practice. Pilates allows us to connect with our inner selves, to listen to our bodies and to pay close attention to what we are being taught in class. The moment you start listening to your body, everything else will align naturally.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would like to start a movement around mental and physical wellness. Sometimes we can take our health for granted and I think we can improve that by understanding the importance of being consistent. It is important for us to connect with ourselves and see what works best for us.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Yes, you can follow us on Instagram @heatedrooom_ and book a class on our branded Heated Room app on our website at www.heatedroom.com
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
Thank you for the amazing opportunity!
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at [email protected]. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
